What's missing here is a discussion of quantity. I can honestly say that both sides have engaged in name calling. Both sides have engaged in preemptive counterattacks. What is new is the shear quantity of invective. It has been quite common in the past for individuals to get into heated discussions of each other's intelligence. That happens all the time.
What is new is the attempt to shut down the threads with quantity of noise.
Hint: this thread is pretty civil, even though there is disagreement.
BB and A-Girl are actively watching this thread, and anyone who cares about their opinion will naturally be on his good behavior. I can recall threads -- presumably now deleted, where for dozens of posts at a time there would be nothing but taunts, insults, and invitations to flame wars, and all from the new crowd, as the evolution side had pretty much decided not to "feed the trolls." BB and A-Girl weren't active in thost threads,so I assume they don't know how truly abominable their new friends can behave, and now the threads are gone.